Identify:

Nouns(les substantifs) are people, places, and things. They have names! You can talk about one noun(singular) or many nouns (plural). You’ll need to learn to use nouns if you want to talk about people, places and things!

Study:

All French nouns(les substantifs) have a number. This simply means that they are either SINGULAR or PLURAL.

If there is only one noun(substantif) being talked about, the noun is SINGULAR.

If there is more than one noun(substantif) being talked about, then the noun is PLURAL.

Be careful! Sometimes words in French have a change in spelling when they change from singular to plural. In order to make singular nouns into plural nouns, follow this guide!

MAKING SINGULAR NOUNS PLURAL:

(a) For most nouns : Add an “s” to the singular form to make the noun plural.(NOTE: the final ‘-s’ is almost always silent in French.)

un stylo : a pendes stylos : some pens

un livre : a bookdes livres : some books

un cinéma : a movie theaterdes cinémas : some movie theaters

un professeur : a professordes professeurs : some professors

un chien : a dogdes chiens: some dogs

un éléphant : an elephantdes éléphants : some elephants

(b) If the noun ends in letter –s, –x, or –z : There is no change from the singular form to the plural form

un bras : an armdes bras : some arms

un choix : a choicedes choix : some choices

un nez : a nosedes nez : some noses

(c) If the singular noun form ends in –eau or –eu : Add an –x in order to form the plural.

un château : a castledes châteaux : some castles

un neveu : nephewdes neveux : nephews

(d) If the singular noun form ends in –al : Drop the –al and replace it with –aux to form the plural.

un animal : an animaldes animaux : some animals

un cheval : a horsedes chevaux : some horses

un journal : a newspaperdes journaux : some newspapers

(e) Some nouns have irregular plural forms. These just have to be memorized.

un oeil : an eyedes yeux : some eyes

monsieur : Mr. / Sir / a manmessieurs : men

madame : Mrs. / Ma’am / a lady / a womanmesdames : ladies / women

mademoiselle : Miss / a young lady / a young womanmesdemoiselles : young ladies / young women

A few French nouns are used mainly in the plural form, and rarely in the singular form.

les gens : people

les lunettes : eyeglasses

les mathématiques / les maths : mathematics / math

les sciences : science

les vacances : vacation

(f) Family names do NOT add an –s in the plural. Instead, the definite article ‘LES’ is used before the family name.

la famille Dupont : the Dupont familyles Dupont : the Duponts

la famille Maubrey : the Maubrey familyles Maubrey : the Maubreys

Adapt:

Vous avez un livre?
Do you (formal) have a book?

Oui, j’ai deux livres.
Yes, I have two books.

Il y a une chaise dans la classe?
Is there a chair in the class?

Oui, il y a beaucoup de chaises dans la classe.
Yes, there are many chairs in the class.

Il y a un professeur d’anglais ici?
Is there an English professor here?

Oui, il y a trois professeurs d’anglais ici.
Yes, there are three English professors here.